One hundred pupils kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, have been handed over to the state government, marking a major breakthrough in efforts to rescue victims of last month’s mass abduction.
The children, transported in several buses, arrived at the Niger State Government House at about 5:20 p.m. on Monday, where Governor Umaru Bago received them alongside senior officials and security representatives.
Their release was secured by the Federal Government and formally conveyed to the state authorities by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was represented at the ceremony by Wing Commander Abdullahi Dare.
During the handover, ONSA officials disclosed that security operatives had been working round-the-clock since the abductions occurred, coordinating surveillance and rescue operations across affected areas.
They reiterated the administration’s commitment to protecting schoolchildren nationwide and strengthening security presence in vulnerable communities.
The rescue followed a renewed federal security push across Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states, where a 24-hour cordon and aerial monitoring were imposed after the attack.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier cancelled scheduled international engagements to oversee the recovery efforts.
Governor Bago expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu and the NSA for what he described as a swift and well-coordinated intervention.
He assured families that the government would not relent until every remaining abductee were safely reunited with their loved ones.
“This is an emotional moment for Niger State,” Bago said, noting the very young ages of many of the children.
He directed medical teams to immediately carry out comprehensive physical and psychological evaluations on all rescued students.
The governor also disclosed that the state was partnering with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), UNICEF, and other child-protection stakeholders to strengthen safety structures in schools and support the reintegration of the children.
Earlier, the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria said it had not yet received formal notification regarding the release.
The state chairman, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, said the association welcomed any positive news but awaited official confirmation.
“It will be a great relief to hear that some of the abducted children have returned,” he stated, adding that the Church continues to pray for the safe return of those still held.
The mass kidnapping occurred on November 21, 2025, when armed men stormed St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in the remote Papiri community.
A total of 315 people, 303 students and 12 teachers, were seized during the attack.
Fifty pupils managed to escape within the first 24 hours, leaving 265 individuals in captivity.
Sunday’s release of 100 children reduces the number of those still held to 165.
The incident sparked national outrage and international concern. Among the global voices was Pope Leo XIV, who publicly condemned the abduction and offered prayers for the victims.
Federal officials have assured families that intelligence teams remain actively engaged in tracking the kidnappers and securing the release of the remaining students and teachers.
Last week, NSA Nuhu Ribadu visited the Papiri community and met with parents and school administrators, giving assurances that the children were alive and that security agencies were closing in on the abductors.
“Evil will not prevail,” Ribadu said during the visit, promising that all abducted children would return home.
The government has since ordered the temporary closure of schools across Niger State and several neighbouring regions considered high-risk.
